At the Geneva show, Honda confirmed to TopGear.com that the Civic Type R responsible for the storming lap time was a prototype model, with a roll cage to “maintain safety for our test driver, mounted in a way that wouldn’t affect body rigidity”.

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Honda went on to say the extra weight of the roll cage was balanced by removing the rear seats and air con.

Tell us then, do these times really matter, if they’re set in such ways? The Nürburgring is, of course, a fickle mistress, with many variables - not least the weather - capable of making small but very important gains. Or losses. There’s still no agreement on where the lap should start and finish, either.

And yet the fisticuffs will continue. These three hatches - and indeed the upcoming 4WD Focus RS - will forever be trading blows. Koenigsegg - and Lotus - both tell us they want to secure outright lap records, and you have to admit, for a complete, all-weather circuit, the ‘Ring remains king. But how many of you out there actually care?

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